how to improve this simple block of code

[Peter Hansen]

py wrote:
> hanz wrote:
>>x = x.rstrip('0.') # removes trailing zeroes and dots
> 
> knew there had to be a way, thanks.

But that's not it. :-)

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about unit testing, and 
begin the long process of developing good testing habits.  Of all the 
ideas posted, I believe only Mark Hammond's would correctly pass the 
basic obvious test cases, and I don't think anyone (without actually 
having checked with tests) should be saying even his is clearly correct.

import unittest
from yourmodule import stripZeros  # or whatever you have

class Tests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test01(self):
         'check zero-stripper'
         for input, expected in [
             ('', ''),
             ('0', '0'),
             ('0.0', '0'),
             ('0.', '0'),
             ('000.', '000'),
             ('10', '10'),
             ('10.0', '10'),
             ('foo', 'foo'),
             ('foo.', 'foo'), # ??
             ('132.15', '132.15'),
             ('132.60', '132.6'),
             ('132.00', '132'),
             ('132.00000', '132'),
             ('132.000001', '132.000001'),
             # add others to taste
             ]:
             self.assertEquals(expected, stripZeros(input))

unittest.main()


Change the above test cases to match what you really want if they're not 
correct, then run the script and make sure everything passes.

-Peter